Adjustable wheelchair

ABSTRACT

An adjustable wheelchair includes A. A CARRIAGE INCLUDING SUPPORT WHEELS, B. A SEAT AND A SUPPORT FRAME THEREFOR, C. A MOTOR DRIVEN ELEVATOR AND GUIDES FOR SUPPORTING THE SEAT AND FRAME FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE CARRIAGE WHILE MAINTAINING THE FRAME AND SEAT FIRMLY CONNECTED WITH THE CARRIAGE, AND D. THE FRAME INCLUDES A PORTION PROXIMATE THE SEAT CONFIGURED FOR RETENTION BY CHAIR RETAINING STRUCTURE INTEGRAL WITH A MOTOR VEHICLE BODY IN RESPONSE TO SEAT AND FRAME MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE CARRIAGE.

Karchak, Jr. et al.

[ ADJUSTABLE WHEELCHAIR [75] Inventors: Andrew Karchak, Jr.; James R.

Allen, both of Downey, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Wheelchairs, Inc., Paramount, Calif.

[22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 462,665

[52] US. Cl ISO/6.5; l80/DIG. 3; 296/65 R; 297/71; 297/330; 297/DIG. 4

[51] Int. Cl. A61G 5/04; B6ON l/08; B62D 11/04 [58] Field of Search180/65, DIG. 3; 296/65 R;

297/7l, 330, DIG. 4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,7l0,659 6/1955 Moederlel80/DlG. 3

2,729,272 H1956 Lidge et all 297/DIG. 4

2,849,051 8/1958 Streeter 297/DIG. 4

3,lll,l8l ll/l963 Yatich ISO/6.5

3.376944 4/l968 Lotz 180/65 [451 Sept. 16, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 680,634 3/l930 France 296/65 R Primary ExaminerDavidSchonberg Assistant Examiner-John A. Pekar Attorney, Agent, orFirm-William W. Haefliger [5 7] ABSTRACT An adjustable wheelchairincludes a. a carriage including support wheels,

b. a seat and a support frame therefor,

c. a motor driven elevator and guides for supporting the seat and framefor movement relative to the carriage while maintaining the frame andseat firmly connected with the carriage, and

d. the frame includes a portion proximate the seat configured forretention by chair retaining structure integral with a motor vehiclebody in response to seat and frame movement relative to the carriage.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU-BEP 1 ims 4 v 3305436 sum 1 15 3PATENTED I 51975 3, 905 .436

IEJDQ ADJUSTABLE WHEELCHAIR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates generally to wheelchairs, and more particularly concernsadaptations of wheelchairs to motor vehicles, as well as improvements inthe adjustment of wheelchair seats and the drive of such chairs.

Persons who are confined to wheelchairs may desire to operate motorvehicles such as vans; however the lifting of such persons into and outof drivers seats in such vehicles is a time consuming task and requiresthe aid of other people. According a need exists to provide a better andmore convenient solution to this problem, and which will enablewheelchair occupants to drive and operate motor vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the invention toprovide a solution to the above problem, and which will enablewheelchair occupants to safely operate motor vehicles while remaining insuch chairs. Basically, the invention is embodied in an adjustablewheelchair wherein the seat and support frame therefor are supported formovement relative to a wheeled carriage, as for example up and downrelative to the carriage. As will be seen, a portion of the frame suchas rails proximate the seat is configured for retention by chairretaining structure, as for example channels, integral with the motorvehicle, and typically up and down movement of the seat and frameadjusts the frame rails to channel height for reception and retentionthereby.

Another object of the invention concerns the provision of a motorizeddrive optionally connected with the chair wheels in such a manner as toallow motor driving as well as Optional manual pushing of the chair, thedrive also serving when denergized to brake the chair against forwardand rearward travel. As a result, when the chair is located in a driveror other position in a vehicle, it may be locked in that position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as thedetails of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understoodfrom the following description and drawings, in which:

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a wheelchair embodyingthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view taken on lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation on lines 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation on lines 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing details or rearwheel drive; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic showing of a van, broken away to show thewheelchair of FIG. 1 mounted in drivers position in the van.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The adjustable wheelchair l0 seen in the drawingsincludes a carriage 11 having front support wheels 12 and rear supportwheels 13. Referring to FIG. 5, the front wheels may be supported as byaxles l4, yokes 15 and bearing assemblies 16 to freely pivot aboutvertical axes 17; the assemblies 16 include shafts 18 connected at 19with a carriage frame or base plate 20, as shown.

As seen in FIGS. 1-3 and 6, the rear wheels 13 may be supported anddriven so as to enable manually controllable activation and deactivativeof motor drives, which also control steering, whereby the chair may bedriven in drive activated mode, and may alternatively be advanced as bypushing in motor deactivated mode. To this end, the motorized drivemeans connected with the wheels 13 may include two endless flexibledrive elements, such as V-belts 24, each operatively connected with arotor or sheave 25 driven by an electric motor 26 and with a rotor orsheave 27 connected with a wheel 13. A battery 28 selectively suppliescurrent to the motors under the operators control via a control box 29carrying a directional control toggle lever 30. Operation of the controlmay be as described in US. Pat. No. 3,749,192 to Karchak. Box 29 may becarried on arm rest unit 32 including frame member 33 and cushion 34.Battery 28 is carried by the frame structure 35 supported by base plate20.

Further, means is provided to adjustably pivotally support the motors tocontrol the tension in the flexible drive elements or belts 24, therebyto activate the transmission of drive to the rear wheels for motordriven mode, and to relieve tension in the belts when it is desired tofree-wheel the wheelchair, as during manual pushing or pulling mode. Asseen in FIG. 6, such means may include a mount in the form of a plate 37(for example) for the two motors, the plate pivotally supported at 38 totubular frame parts 39 so as to pivot about transverse axis 40.Accordingly, when the plate is pivoted downwardly to broken lineposition 37a, for example, the motors move to positions 26a relativelycloser to the wheels 13, so that slack is produced in the belts 24,disabling transmission of drive to the wheels 13. A lever or levers 41controls such pivoting, and includes legs 41a, 41b and 41c, the latterpivoted at 42 to the strut 43 which connects axle 21 to the frame 39,and leg 41a serving as a handle. Leg 41b pivotally supports, at 44, apost 45 carrying a threaded part 46 in which a belt tension adjustingnut 47 is rotatably carried. The nut supports the motor mount 37, withthe upper end of part 46 projecting into a bore 47a in the mount, asshown. When the lever 41 is swung to broken line position 41d, stoppingagainst the axle, the motor mount pivots downward to position 37a, asdescribed. Conversely, when the lever is swung upwardly, the belts aretensioned for motor drive mode, the position of the nut 47 on part 46determining the degree of belt tension.

An important aspect of the invention concerns the provision of meanssupporting the wheelchair seat 49 and support frame 50 therefor formovement relative to the carriage 11 while maintaining the frame 50 andseat 49 firmly connected with the carriage. In this regard, the frame 50may include a portion, as for example forwardly extending rails 51 atopposite sides of the seat, configured for connection with chairretaining structure integral with a motor vehicle body, and in responseto such seat and frame movement relative to the carriage. As a result,the wheelchair may be driven into and firmly positioned within a motorvehicle, such as van 52 in FIG. 7, so that the occupant may drive thevan, the steering wheel of which appears at 53 directly in front of thereceived wheelchair.

In the example, the frame also includes transverse tubular elements 55and 56 integral with the tubular rails,

a second horizontal plate 57 supporting the elements 52, 55 and 56,uprights 58 integral with rear extent of plate 57, and transverse bar 59integral with the uprights. Seat 49 may be carried by the plate 57 orother frame structure. Arm rests 33 extend generally horizontallyforwardly above the lever of the rails 51, and means such as sleeves 61telescopically receiving opposite ends of rod or bar 59 hinge the armrests for swinging movement, as for example upwardly as indicated bybroken lines 33b in FIG. 1. Note elevated arm positions indicated bybroken lines 33a. In this regard, and as will appear, the arm rests arethereby swung out of normal position so that the wheelchair occupant maysteer the vehicle, without interference. If desired, the arm rests maybe swung upwardly to vertical position and retained.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the means supporting the seat and frame formovement may include a motor driven elevator, as for example jackscrew70, mounted on carriage 11 and connected with the frame 50, as at 71, toraise and lower the frame and seat. The jackscrew includes a threaded orcogged plunger 72 opera tively connected with electric drive motor 73via a stepdown transmission unit 74, the motor and transmission beingsupported by carriage 11. A vertical guide for the plunger 72 is shownat 75 in FIG. 4. Linear guide units are also provided as at 76 to guidethe raising and lowering of the seat and frame, and also to blockundesired lateral movement thereof, relative to the carriage. Such unitsmay include vertical guide pins 77 attached to plate 57, and sleevebearings 78 within sleeves 79 attached to plate 20, the bearings closelyreceiving and guiding the pins.

FIG. 3 shows the provision of chair retaining structure, integral withthe motor vehicle body, for receiving the rails 51 in raised conditionof the seat, thereby to safely retain the wheelchair in driver positionin the ve hicle. Such structure as shown in the form of channels 80extending longitudinally forwardly to receive the raised rails as thewheelchair is advanced or driveninto driving position. Lifting of thelevers 41 into raised position then locks the chair against forward andrearward movement, with the drive motors deenergized, due to the rotarymotion blocking action of output speed reducing transmissions associatedwith motors 26. Up and down movement of the seat and frame enablesadjustment of the rails 51 to channel height.

A foot rest 84 is operatively connected with the frame 50 and carriage 11, as via linkage 85, to raise the foot rest relative to the seat inresponse to lowering of the seat relative to the carriage, and to lowerthe foot rest relative to the seat in response to raising of the seatrelative to the carriage..Linkage 85 includes links86 pivotallyconnected with the carriage at 87, links 88 pivotally connected at 89with the frame extensions 90, and pins 91 pivotally interconnectinglinks 86 and 88. Foot rest 84 is carried by links 88.

We claim:

1. In an adjustable wheelchair,

a. a carriage including support wheels,

b. a seat and a support frame therefor,

-c. means supporting the seat and frame for movement relative to thecarriage while maintaining the frame and seat firmly connected with thecarriage, said means including a motor driven elevator mounted on thecarriage and connected with the frame to raise and" lower the seat, andlinear guides also mounted on the carriage and connected with the frameto guide said raising and lowering of the seat and to block lateralmovement of the seat and frame relative to the carriage, and

d. the frame including a portion proximate the seat configured forretention by chair retaining structure integral with a motor vehiclebody in response to said seat and frame movement relative to the Vcarriage, said portion integral with the frame.

2. The combination that includes the wheelchair of claim 1 together withsaid structure having the form of channels located to receive saidportion having the form of rails at opposite sides of the seat.

3; The combination that includes the wheelchair and structure of claim 2together with said motor vehicle body rigidly supporting said chairretaining structure.

4. The wheelchair of claim 1 including a drive means connected with saidwheels for controllably rotating the wheels to advance the wheelchair ina selected direction.

5. The wheelchair of claim 4 wherein said drive means includes twoendless flexible drive elements each operatively connected with a motordriven rotor and a wheel driving rotor, and means adjustably pivotallysupporting the motors to control element tension, thereby to enable anddisable the transmission of drive to the wheel driving rotors.

6. In an adjustable wheelchair,

a. a carriage including support wheels,

b. a seat and a support frame therefor,

c. means supporting the seat and frame for movement relative to thecarriage while maintaining the frame and seat firmly connected with thecarriage, said means including a motor driven elevator mounted on thecarriage and connected with the frame to raise and lower the seat, andlinear guides also mounted on the carriage and connected with the frameto guide said raising and lowering of the seat and to block lateralmovement of the seat and frame relative to the carriage, and

. d. a foot rest, and a linkage operatively connecting the foot restwith the frame and carriage to raise the foot rest relative to the seatin response to lowering of the seat relative to the carriage, and tolower the foot rest relative to the seat in response to raising of theseat relative to the carriage.

7. In an adjustable wheelchair,

a. a carriage including support wheels,

b. a seat and a support frame therefor, and

0. means supporting the seat and frame for movement relative to thecarriage while maintaining the frame and seat firmly connected with thecarriage,

d. the frame including a portion proximate the seat configured forretention by chair retaining structure integral with a motor vehiclebody in response to said seat and frame movement relative to thecarriage, said portion comprising rails at opposite I sides of the seat,the chair having arm rests extending in generally horizontal positionsabove the level of said rails, and means hinging the arm rests to theframe for swinging movement away from said positions so that thewheelchair occupant may freely steer said motor vehicle without armrestobstruc-

1. In an adjustable wheelchair, a. a carriage including support wheels,b. a seat and a support frame therefor, c. means supporting the seat andframe for movement relative to the carriage while maintaining the frameand seat firmly connected with the carriage, said means including amotor driven elevator mounted on the carriage and connected with theframe to raise and lower the seat, and linear guides also mounted on thecarriage and connected with the frame to guide said raising and loweringof the seat and to block lateral movement of the seat and frame relativeto the carriage, and d. the frame including a portion proximate the seatconfigured for retention by chair retaining structure integral with amotor vehicle body in response to said seat and frame movement relativeto the carriage, said portion integral with the frame.
 2. Thecombination that includes the wheelchair of claim 1 together with saidstructure having the form of channels located to receive said portionhaving the form of rails at opposite sides of the seat.
 3. Thecombination that includes the wheelchAir and structure of claim 2together with said motor vehicle body rigidly supporting said chairretaining structure.
 4. The wheelchair of claim 1 including a drivemeans connected with said wheels for controllably rotating the wheels toadvance the wheelchair in a selected direction.
 5. The wheelchair ofclaim 4 wherein said drive means includes two endless flexible driveelements each operatively connected with a motor driven rotor and awheel driving rotor, and means adjustably pivotally supporting themotors to control element tension, thereby to enable and disable thetransmission of drive to the wheel driving rotors.
 6. In an adjustablewheelchair, a. a carriage including support wheels, b. a seat and asupport frame therefor, c. means supporting the seat and frame formovement relative to the carriage while maintaining the frame and seatfirmly connected with the carriage, said means including a motor drivenelevator mounted on the carriage and connected with the frame to raiseand lower the seat, and linear guides also mounted on the carriage andconnected with the frame to guide said raising and lowering of the seatand to block lateral movement of the seat and frame relative to thecarriage, and d. a foot rest, and a linkage operatively connecting thefoot rest with the frame and carriage to raise the foot rest relative tothe seat in response to lowering of the seat relative to the carriage,and to lower the foot rest relative to the seat in response to raisingof the seat relative to the carriage.
 7. In an adjustable wheelchair, a.a carriage including support wheels, b. a seat and a support frametherefor, and c. means supporting the seat and frame for movementrelative to the carriage while maintaining the frame and seat firmlyconnected with the carriage, d. the frame including a portion proximatethe seat configured for retention by chair retaining structure integralwith a motor vehicle body in response to said seat and frame movementrelative to the carriage, said portion comprising rails at oppositesides of the seat, the chair having arm rests extending in generallyhorizontal positions above the level of said rails, and means hingingthe arm rests to the frame for swinging movement away from saidpositions so that the wheelchair occupant may freely steer said motorvehicle without arm rest obstructions.